In 2014, Israel attacked Gaza with overwhelming force and slaughtered over 2,200 Palestinian men, woman and children - over 10,000 were wounded, including 3,374 children, of whom over 1,000 were left permanently disabled. Palestinians heroically resisted the Israeli blitzkrieg and killed 67 of the invading Israeli soldiers (and five Israeli civilians).
Around the world, BDS campaigners stepped up their activity with some significant results.
Since 2014, for example, no Israeli ships have managed to dock and unload at Oakland Port in California as a result of the campaigning work of AROC (Arab Resources and Organising Centre) and its allies. An inspiring record, the gold standard.
2014 was also the last - unsuccessful - attempt by Israeli state-sponsored performers to participate in the world's largest cultural festival, the Edinburgh Fringe. They were driven out on their first appearance by vigorous protests, never to return.
The last Israeli state-sponsored group at the more elite Edinburgh International Festival was protested and disrupted in 2008. The Edinburgh International Film Festival responded in 2009 to a storm of protest against their acceptance of sponsorship from the Israeli Embassy by returning the tainted money.
In 2012, Israeli dance troupe Batsheva faced protests and disruption of every UK performance starting with events in Edinburgh kicked off with the Israeli Ambassador present at the "non-political" groups opening night. Since 2014, Scotland has been clean of all Israeli state-sponsored cultural events.
That same year of Israeli massacres also saw the last publicly advertised fundraiser by the racist Jewish National Fund, the Scottish arm of the Israeli para-statal of the same name. This was the culmination of every JNF fundraiser being vigorously protested since SPSC was founded in 2000.
These victories face a determined coalition of enemies buoyed by their success in defeating Jeremy Corbyn and witch hunting academics and other supporters of Palestine from their jobs.
Only a larger and stronger Scottish BDS campaign will defeat the current Zio-attacks on free speech. They will not stop until they are defeated - or we are.
These victories were bought with much Palestinian blood and patient organising. Join us today for an active, campaigning 2022.
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
16 December 2021
Introduction by founder member Mick Napier, October 2020: Lessons of 20 years of…
3 February 2016, Kilmarnock Sheriff Court Sheriff Watson dismissed a charge of assault…
Documents obtained by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign show how a subsidiary of…
